Burnett, Yankees overpower N.Y. rivals

The Yankees are turning this Subway Series into a monumental mismatch.

A.J. Burnett combined with two relievers on a one-hitter, Nick Swisher and Jorge Posada made Citi Field seem small with opposite-field homers, and the Yankees rolled past the Mets again, 5-0.

Alex Cora got the Mets' only hit, lining a clean single to center leading off the sixth. He had been 0-for-21 with eight strikeouts against Burnett.

The depleted Mets, playing with center fielder Carlos Beltran, shortstop Jose Reyes and first baseman Carlos Delgado on the disabled list, didn't reach base after Cora. They've been outscored 14-1 and outhit 22-4 in the first two games of the weekend series.

Burnett (6-4) struck out 10 in seven innings and walked three. Brian Bruney and David Robertson each followed with a perfect inning before 41,302, the second straight record crowd at Citi Field and just the fourth sellout there this season.

Tim Redding (1-3) allowed five runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The Yankees have won four of five against their crosstown rivals, clinching the season series for the first time since sweeping all six meetings in 2003, the last time they went to the World Series.

In their final meeting this regular season, Chien-Ming Wang (0-6) starts for the Yankees in search of his first win since June 15 last year, with the Mets pitching Livan Hernandez (5-2).

Around the majors
Seattle Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre will undergo surgery to have bone spurs removed from his troublesome left shoulder. Beltre's nonthrowing shoulder was operated on, along with his left thumb, in September for the same reason and has given him severe pain all season.

The Cleveland Indians traded infielder Mark DeRosa to the St. Louis Cardinals for reliever Chris Perez and a player to be named later. DeRosa, whom the Indians acquired from the Chicago Cubs in a trade last offseason, was hitting .270 with 13 homers and 50 RBI.

The Philadelphia Phillies confirmed that one of their players was involved in a confrontation with a fan after Thursday's game at the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Phillies did not identify the player in their statement. The Rays also confirmed the incident but did not release details.

The St. Petersburg Times reported on its Web site yesterday that Phillies reliever J.C. Romero grabbed and shoved Robert Eaton, 25, of New Port Richey, Fla., after the fan made two comments about steroids.

Romero was suspended for the first 50 games of the season after testing positive for androstenedione, a substance that Mark McGwire used in the 1990s that was later banned by baseball. Romero, who earned two wins in Philadelphia's World Series victory over Tampa Bay last year, has sued the manufacturer of an over-the-counter supplement that he said led to his positive test.